Echoes of Virginia Tech: ‘Copycat comments’ lead to firings around U.S.

“If I get one more write-up, if you think they had a problem in Virginia, it’ll be worse here."

When an employee of Suffolk County (N.Y.) Community College spewed that reference to the Virginia Tech massacre during an argument with his supervisor, the supervisor quickly called police. Police charged the man with harassment and criminal possession of a weapon after he admitted owning a bolt-action shotgun. And the man was fired.

That wasn’t an isolated incident. In the weeks following the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech, employers around the country have tried to figure out how to deal with “copycat comments” from employees.

Example: A SeaWorld employee in Florida told co-workers he idolized the Virginia Tech shooter and that he wanted to “do what happened at Virginia Tech here at SeaWorld.” His employer promptly fired him and called police. The 20-year-old employee later said he was joking.

Similarly, certain employers have had to deal with what’s been called the “Imus virus,” people who repeat the infamous last words of radio shock jock Don Imus, always with equally dismal results.

In Brooklyn, N.Y., for example, three female police officers filed a federal harassment lawsuit after a sergeant rallied them during roll call with “Stand up, hos.” To which another officer added Imus’s infamous phrase, “They’re not just hos, they’re nappy-headed hos.”

Advice: In today’s environment, you can’t shrug off such “jokes” or threats. It pays to take such comments seriously. Encourage employees to come forward with concerns about comments made by employees. And respond decisively when employees make such comments or when they act erratically.

The 8 warning signs of violent employee behavior

When violence occurs at work, employees may say their violent co-worker “just snapped.” But, the truth is, people usually don’t snap. They display warning signs long before they actually act out. The key is to talk to employees early in this “pre-violence” stage to offer assistance and/ or let them know their behaviors are unacceptable.

Be on the lookout for workers who display any of these eight warning signs of violent behavior, according to Dr. Dennis Davis, president of the HELP Center:

1. Fascination with weapons. That’s different than ownership of weapons. (Think Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver.)

2. Substance abuse. Research shows a big correlation between substance abuse and violence.

3. Severe stress. Stress is a function of modern society but people with a propensity toward violence allow that stress to become an excuse for violence.

4. Violent history. “Once people cross that moral, ethical or professional barrier into violence,” Dennis Davis says, “it’s a lot easier for them to do it the next time.”

5. Decreased or inconsistent productivity. Employees with a tendencytoward violence have a harder time keepinga consistent level of productivity.

6. Social isolation and poor peer relationships. Loners are more likely toact violently because they don’t have asocial network to work out problems.

7. Poor personal hygiene. These people have moved into the dangerous “I don’t care” phase.

8. Drastic changes in personality. It’s a myth that you need to watch outfor ultra-shy or ultra-outgoing employees.Davis says, “You need to payattention to the person who flip-flopsbetween the two.”

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